A Day in the Hijab of Shama

Allaah swears an oath by them, and swearing an oath by something is indicative of its importance and great benefit. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): "By the dawn; by the 10 nights" [al-Fajr 89:1-2]. Ibn Abbaas, Ibn al-Zubayr, Mujaahid and others of the earlier and later generations said that this refers to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. Ibn Katheer said: "This is the correct opinion." [Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 8/413]

Praise be to Allaah Who has created Time and has made some times better than others, some months and days and nights better than others, when rewards are multiplied many times, as a mercy towards His slaves. This encourages them to do more righteous deeds and makes them more eager to worship Him, so that the Muslim renews his efforts to gain a greater share of reward, prepare himself for death and supply himself in readiness for the Day of Judgement.

This season of worship brings many benefits, such as the opportunity to correct ones faults and make up for any shortcomings or anything that one might have missed. Every one of these special occasions involves some kind of worship through which the slaves may draw closer to Allaah, and some kind of blessing though which Allaah bestows His favour and mercy upon whomsoever He will. The happy person is the one who makes the most of these special months, days and hours and draws nearer to his Lord during these times through acts of worship; he will most likely be touched by the blessing of Allaah and will feel the joy of knowing that he is safe from the flames of Hell. [Ibn Rajab, al-Lataaif, p.8]

Ibn 'Abbas reports that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these days [meaning the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah]." The companions asked, "O Messenger of Allaah, not even jihad in the way of Allaah?" He said, "Not even jihad, except for the man who puts his life and wealth in danger [for Allaah's sake] and returns with neither of them." [This is related by the group except Muslim and an-Nasa'i]

Fasting Day of Arafat


Abu Qatadah reported that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "Fasting on the day of 'Arafah is an expiation for two years, the year preceding it and the year following it. Fasting the day of 'Ashurah is an expiation for the year preceding it." [This is related by "the group," except for al-Bukhari and at-Tirmidhi]

By JIMAS

by Muhammad Alshareef
Bismillaah Ar-Rahmaan Ar-Raheem
Here is a list of 10 things that would not take more than 10 minutes of our time. And if we truly understood the happiness these actions bring in this life and the next, we would spend our life in dedication to these deeds:

10. Pray 2 rakaat (Salatul Duha) anytime after sunrise and before Dhuhr.
Abu Hurayrah radi Allahu anhu said, "My khaleel, Allah's Messenger sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam advised me to do three things (1) That I fast 3 days of each month and (2) To pray 2 rakaat of Duha and (3) That I do my witr before sleeping" (Bukhari and Muslim).

9. Pray for RasulAllah sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam.
He sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, "Whoever prays for me once, Allah blesses that person 10 times (because of that prayer)" (Muslim).

8. Repeat what the mu'adhdhin is saying.
Abdullah ibn Amr narrates: A man said, "O Messenger of Allah, the ones that call the people to prayer receive more reward than us." So Allah's Messenger sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam replied, "Say what they say, then when you finish, pray for anything and you shall be given it" (Abu Dawood).

7. Say subhan Allah - How far Allah is from imperfection! –100 times.
Mus'ab ibn Sa'd said: My father told me that he was with Allah's Messenger sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam when he remarked, "Does any one of you not have the ability to attain 1000 hasanaat (good deeds) every day? Let him do tasbeeh (Subhan Allah) 100 times and it will be written for him as 1000 hasanaat or 1000 sins will be wiped from his record" (Muslim).

6. Play with your children for the sake of Allah.
Jabir narrates: We were with Allah's Messenger sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam on our way to an invitation to a meal when we passed Al-Husayn playing in the alley with some Ansar children. Allah's Messenger sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam walked a little faster to go and play with him. He stuck out his hand to take him, but Al-Husayn ran here and there squealing gleefully until Allah's Messenger caught him. Then he sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam held his chin with one hand and his head with the other and kissed Al-Husayn and hugged him (Bukhari).

5. Make du’a often during times of ease.
RasulAllah sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, "Whoever it pleases that Allah answer his supplications during times of calamity and hardship, let him increase his supplication amidst the times of ease" (Tirmidhi and Al Hakim).
Bonus: Say the Dhikr after Making Wudu. RasulAllah sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, "If anyone of you, after perfecting his wudu, says, 'Ash hadu an laa ilaaha illAllah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'Abduhu wa Rasooluh (I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is his slave and Messenger), the eight gates of Jannah will open for him and he will be permitted to enter from whichever he wishes" (Muslim).

4. Pick up the phone to call your mother (or a close relative) and tell them that you love them. RasulAllah sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, "The Wasil (One who fulfils the rights of his ties of kinship) is not the one who does good when family members do good (and bad when they are bad). The Wasil is the one who, when family members cut him off he does good to them" (Interpretation of a Bukhari).

3. Take a few minutes to stop and contemplate Allah's amazing creation, of your eyes, voice, and entire body.
Allah says in the Qur'an: And on the earth are signs for the certain (in faith) /And in yourselves, will you not see (and contemplate) (Az-Zariyat 51/20-21)?

2. Share a part of your lunch with someone.
RasulAllah sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, "Oh Abu Dharr! If you cook any soup, increase its water and then look to your neighbors and give them some of it" (Muslim).

And the number one deed you can do in less then 10 minutes...
1. Make du'a for your brother in his absence.
RasulAllah sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, “If a person prays for his (or her) brother in their absence (without them knowing), an angel (hears the du'a) and replies, ‘Ameen! And may Allah give you the same’”(Ahmad, Abu Dawood and Tirmidhi).

In fact, whenever the Sahaabah and Taabi'een wanted their du'a to be answered quickly, they would ask the same thing for their brother in order to get the angel to reply, ‘Ameen! And may Allah give you the same.’ In sha Allah, let's all try at the very least to find one deed from this list and implement it in this coming week. After it has become habit, try another deed and so on. This is how we can all grow.

My 93 yr old grandma has accepted Allah’s deen….(tears)… Du’a folks, du’a. That’s what it takes. Allahu Akbar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!